Milking machine pulsator



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. l7 1947 FIG. I

IIS

IIO

FIG. 2 INVENTOR.

SAM P. WALL July 3, 1951 s. P. WALL MILKING MACHINE PULSATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan'. 17. 1947 FIG.3

FIG. 4 INVENTOR. SAM P. WALL ATTY July 3, 1951 s. P. WALL 2,559,035

MILKING MACHINE PULsAToR Filed Jan. 1.7. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 YHI WH, Fla? FIG. 9

INVENTOR. SAM P. wA|

Patented July 3, 1951 MILKING MACHINE PULSATOR Sam P. Wall, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Rite-Way Products Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application January 17, 1947, Serial No. 722,663

This invention relates to vacuum type milking machine pulsators.

Pulsators of the type with which the present invention is primarily concerned consist of e. reciprocating pulsation valve which applies vacuum and atmospheric pressure alternately to a pulsation line. The pulsation valve moves rapidly, with a pause between reversals. The duration of the pause is determined by a timing or control valve. Separate piston and cylinder coinm binations are controlled by and in turn operate the respective valves.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a pulsator of the above mentioned type wherein the pistons are self-aligning. It is another object of the present invention to provide a structure wherein the valve and the cylinder for actuating the same are a unitary structure which slide over the body of the pulsator. This reduces the number of parts and facilitates assembly of the pulsator not only in the manufao ture of the same but also by the user who must occasionally disassemble it for cleaning purposes. This also simplifies the drilling of the air passageways in the manufacture of the pulsator. it is a further object of the present invention to provide a pulsator structure wherein the air passageways through the stationary part of the pulsator are formed in a single forging or block4 This simplifies the operations of forming the vacuum passageways or ports and simplifies the problem of reducing air leakage.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparen from the following specification taken in conV junction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top view of the pulsator of the present invention with the cover thereof removed and with one of the cylinders shown in section;

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line II-Il. of Figure 1, with the pulsation valve shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a View of the left side of Figure l with parts of the cover broken away and the control valve shown in longitudinal section;

Figure l is a plan View of the pulsator body;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the broken line V-V of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a bottoni View of the pulsation valve;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of the pulsation valve taken along the line VIL-VII of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the ar rows;

14 Claims. (Cl. IS7-145.3)

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII- VIII of Figure 7 and looking in the di rection of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line lX-IX of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a bottom view of the control valve; and

Figure l1 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-Xl of Figure 10.

1Reference may now be had more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout.

The pulsator of the present invention coi prises a pulsator block or body I which is a brass forging and has a lower neck portion 2 forming a hollow. chamber 3, and has an upper cylinn drical portion 4 that has a circular top surface 5 that is ground and lapped to be perfectly flat. A vacuum line receiving nipple 'Ivis an integral part of the casting and has a central bore 8 therethrough which opens into the chamber 3. The nipple 'I is adapted to receive a rubber hose or the like that is connected to a source of vacuum. The body I has on one side thereof two horizontally extending holes I0 and II in which are secured nipples I2 and I3 each for receiving a flexible hose which extends to suitable nipples onV a milking machine claw in a manner known in the art. The holes I0 and II are intersected by port holes I4 and I5 that are drilled in the body I from the top surface thereof. Between the holes Ill and the holes I5 there are formed e pair of holes or ports IB which extend downwardly from the surface 5 to and intersect an inclined bore I8 that connects the ports I with the chamber 3.

A series of parallel air passages ZI, 22, 23 and E4 are drilled from one side of the body I in the upper cylindrical portion thereof. The outer end of each of the four passages is permanently closed by a plug 2", each plug consisting of a short length of wire that makes a snug fit in the passageway and is soldered or otherwise permanent sealed therein with the outer face of the wire terminating flush with the cylindrical surface 4.

Two ports 27 and 28 are drilled from thev top 3 I -32, and the passageway 24 connects the ports 33-34.

A vacuum port or passageway 36 extends from the surface to the chamber 3, as may be seen from Figures 2 and 4. In addition to the above the pulsator body has a vacuum control port 39 that extends downwardly from the surface 5 to and intersects a downwardly sloping passageway 40 which is in alignment with and opens into a bore 4I which is internally threaded as at 42.V

An inclined bore 43 connects the bore 4l with the vacuum chamber 3, as may be seen from Figure 5. The bore 43 is at such an angle that a drillA following along the center line 44 of the bore 43 can be used, which drill enters the bore 4l. As a result the passageway 43 mayreadily be cleaned as by passing a wire therethrough from the outside of the base through the open end of the-bore A washer 49 Vof leather or the like,

Four mounting posts 55 are mounted on the .ef

top of the pulsator body, as by threading the posts into tapped openings 56 in the top of the pulsator body. These posts are adapted to receive and hold pistons'tliat extend into cylinders, to be presently more fully described.

A pulsation valve 63 and a timing or control valve 6| are positioned on the -at surface 5. Each of the valves has a flat bottom surface adapted to slide along the surface 5. The pulsationfvalve 6D has, onl the'under side thereof, a I

rectangular recess 63 which is adapted to overlie the vacuum passageways I6 and connect them alternately with the ports I4 and with the ports l5, depending upon the position of the pulsation valve. The pulsation valve 60 also has a pair of similar. slots E34-65 on opposite sides of the recess 63 each of which slots is open at the base of the pulsation valve and at the side thereof. In addition the under surface of the pulsation valve 63 has an elongated recess 65 extending across the transverse center line' of the valve and a pair of separate shorter recesses 61-68. Above the recesses and slots- 53' through 68 the pulsation valve has two similar cylinder bores 1) and 1| formed therein separated by a wall 'l2 which maintains the cylinder bores separate from one another. A port 13 is drilled from the under side ofthe pulsation valve at the recess 61 and connects the recess with the interior o1 the cylinder 1I adjacent the dividing wall 12. or passageway 'i4y connects the recess 58 with the interior of the cylinder 1B.

The control valve 6| has a flat bottom surface in which are formed', respectively, a rectangular A similar port 4,

recess 11 which opens to the atmosphere at one side of the control valve, and a U-shaped recess 18 having arms 19-19, and a pair of rectangular recesses 81E-'8L Above the base of the control valve the valve is provided with two cylinders 82-33 separated by a wall 94. A port or passageway 85 extends from the recess 60 into the cylinder 82 adjacent the wall 84 and a similar port or' passageway 85 extends from the recess 8l into the cylinder 83 adjacent the partition wall 84.

A pair of similar pistons 953-99 extend into the respective bores 5'2-33. Each piston comprises sure is thus applied to the cylinder 82.

a body 9| undercut at its forward end to receive a cup-shaped gland 92, of leather or the like, which is held in place by a screw 93 and a Washer 94. A circular peripheral ange 96 on the piston limits the extent of insertion of the piston into the cylinder bore. On its rearward side the piston has a circular protuberance 93 which has a hole 94 therethrough to permit sliding of the piston onto one of the posts 55. The two pistons are assembled within the cylinder bores 82-83 and then the assembly is slipped over a pair of posts 55, the posts passing through the openings 94 in the pistons'. This xe's the positions of the pistons and permits sliding movement of the control Valve between the two posts 55. The pulsation valve likewise has two pistons 99 similarly assembled therein and held each on one of theother two posts 55.

An explanation will Iow be given of the manner of operation of the mechanism thus' far described. Assume that the parts-are.v in the positions illustrated and that vacuum is applied to the nipple 1 and thence to the chamber 3. The vacuum connection extends` by way of the holes or passageways I5, thence by Way of the recess 63 in the pulsation valve to the passageways I4 and the nipple l2, thus applying vacuum to the nipple l2. At this time the passageways l5 are overlaid by the recess 64 which, being open to atmosphere, applies atmospheric pressure to the nipple I3. At the same time vacuum is applied from the chamber 3 by way of the bore 43 (Fig. 5), thence through the space between the threads of the regulating screw 45 and the threads of the bore 4|, thence by way of the passageway 40 to the vacuum port 33 which is thus always connected to vacuum by way of the long spiral passageway between some of the threads of the regulating screw and the threads of the bore 4 I. The port 39 is overlaid by the recess 66 which at this time extends to the port: 33. Vacuum is thus extended to the port 33 and thence through the passageway 24 to the port 34. The port 34 is overlaid by the passageway which, through the port 85, communicates with the interior of the cylinder 83. Vacuum-is thus applied to the interior of the cylinder 83 thereby drawing the air out of that cylinder. At the same time the port 21 is under the slot 64 of the pulsation valve so that atmospheric pressure is applied through the slot 64, port 21, passageway 2l and the port 28, which is overlaid by the recess 8l that connects with the cylinder 32 through the passageway 86 in the control Valve. Atmospheric pres- Since there is atmospheric pressure on one side of the dividing wall 84 and vacuum on the other sidethereof the control valve 6l commences to move in a direction downwardly as seen in Figure 1, to its alternate position. The rate of its movement is determined by the rate of air flow through the restricted passageway set by the regulating screw 45.

When the control valve has traveled to its alternate position abuttingthe flange 96 of the piston it establishes vacuum connections for operating the pulsation valve to its alternate position. These connections are `as follows: Vacuum is applied from the passageway 36 and'recess 18 to one of the arms 19 thereof which is now over the port 3i). This establishes vacuum connection from the port 35 by way of the passageway 18 to the port 30, thence by way of the passageway Z2 to the port 29 which is overlaid by the recess 67 O f the pulsation valve. The recess 61 communicates the vacuum connection to the cylinder II by way of the passageway 13. At the same time the atmosphere recess 11 of the control valve 6I is over the port 32, thus connecting atmospheric pressure via that port and passageway 23 to the port 3|, which port 3| is overlaid by the recess 68 in the pulsation valve, which, through the port 14, connects atmospheric pressure to the cylinder 10 of the pulsation valve. The cylinders of the pulsation valve thus have atmospheric pressure on the lower side of the Wall 12 and vacuum on the opposite side thereof, as seen in Figure 1. -The pulsation valve now moves in a. direction upwardly, as seen in Figure 1, to its alternate position. It moves to that position rapidly because the vacuum and atmospheric connections to the cylinders of the pulsation valve entirely by-pass the restricting screw bore 4|. In its alternate position the recess 63 of the pulsation valve connects the vacuum ports I6 with the ports I5 thus applying vacuum to the nipple I3. The atmospheric slot 65 of the pulsation valve now overlies the ports I4 and the port 33 thus applying atmospheric pressure to the nipple I2 and applying atmospheric pressure to the port 33, thence through the passage 24 to the port 34 which is overlaid by the slot 80 of the control valve GI. At this time the recess 66 connects the vacuum port 39 with the port 21 thus applying vacuum through the port 21 and passageway 2| to the port 28 which is overlaid by the recess 8| of the control valve, which recess 8| is connected to the cylinder 82 by passage 86. The control valve thus immediately commences to return to the position illustrated in Figure 1 and, when it returns to that position, it establishes connections for immeditaely returning the pulsation valve to the position illustrated in Figure 1. It is thus apparent that by this arrangement when the pulsation valve reaches an extreme position it establishes vacuum and atmospheric connections for moving the control or timing valve from the position in lwhich it is to its alternate position and that the control valve moves at a speed determined by the setting of the screw 45. When the control valve reaches its alternate position it then establishes vacuum connections for moving the pulsation valve to a position other than in which it is.

The pulsation valve and the control valve thus reciprocate between the posts 55-55 alternately. Grooves IUD-IUI are milled across the flat surface 5 of the -pulsator body in such a position that the bottoms of the movable valves Ell-6I just reach the grooves I or IIJI in the alternate positions of the valves. This facilitates the maintenance of fiat surfaces at the areas of rubbing of the Valves on the surface notwithstanding wear that may take place.

The pistons for each pair of cylinders are selfaligning because each piston is free to turn about the vertical axis of its mounting post 55. If there is any wear on the rubbing surfaces constituting the bottoms of the valves and the corresponding parts of the top 5 on which the valves slide this wear does not affect the seating of the valves because the pistons are free to slide downwardly on the mounting posts and thus permit the valves to be self-seating on the surface 5. Each valve, with its cylinder bores formed therein and with its associated pistons constitutes a pneumatic mechanism which may easily be removed from the pulsator block by simply lifting the same along the posts 55, and may be replaced equally easily. This facilitates inspection and repair of the mechanism.

The pneumatic mechanisms are enclosed within a dome-shaped cover IIO the top of which has ,a circular opening I I I, the surrounding metalA of the cover being flared downwardly and at an angle, as indicated at I I2. A porous metal filter disk I I3 rests on the seat I I2 and is held in place by a cap I I4 that has fingers |I5 bearing against the lter disk I I3 and spacing the cap I I4 therefrom to allow atmospheric air into the space between the cap and the filter disk. The shank of a screw IIB is welded to the under side of the cap I I4 and makes a snug sliding fit through the filter II3 and at its bottom is threaded into a tapped hole |I1 at the top of the pulsatorbody.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. Itis, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention.

What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

1. A milking machine pulsator comprising a pulsator block, a hose-receiving nipple extending therefrom, and means for applying vacuum and. atmospheric pressure to said nipple alternately in cycles, said means including a valve reciprocable on the block and controlling the application of vacuum and atmospheric pressure to said nipple, and pneumatic means for operating the valve comprising a pair of pneumatic cylinders formed in the valve, pistonsin said cylinders. and means for holding the pistons with respect to the block against movement in the directionv of the longitudinal axes of the cylinders.

2. A pulsator comprising a block having a flat top and having air passageways therein terminating in ports at the top, a pair of separate valves slidable ,on the top of the block and having passageways at their lower surface for interconnecting different ones of the ports, and means for moving the valves comprising cylinder bores formed in the respective valves, and pistons pivoted on the block and extending into the cylinder bores. r

3. A pulsator comprising a block, air passageways in said block and terminating in ports at the top thereof, a valve slidable on said block-over said ports, said valve having a pair of aligned cylinder bores opening on opposite faces thereof, pistons in said bores, said pistons including portions extending outside of said cylinder bores, means pivotally connecting said outside extending portions of the pistons to said block for holding the pistons in position on the block while permitting aligning movement thereof, said cylinder bores being movable with respect to the pistons to move the valve over different ports of the block.

4. A pulsator comprising a block, air passageways in said block and terminating in ports onl of, pistons in said bores, said pistons includingr portions extending outside of said cylinder bores, posts on which the outside extending portions are slidable, said posts being mounted on the block and extending at right angles to the longitudinal4 axes of the bores and holding the pistons inpoj sition on the block, said cylinder bores being.

movable with respect to the-pistons to move the valve over different ports of the block.

5, A milking machine pulsator comprising a pulsator block having a ported surface, a pneumatically operated mechanism including a valve resting and slidable on said surface, said mechanism being freely movable away from said-surface and including a pair of pneumatic cylinders and a pair of pistons one for each cylinder, one of said pairs comprising one integral unit and the other pair comprising separate units, the valve being an integral part of the said integral unit and supporting the rest of the pneumatically operated mechanism on said block, and guide means for guiding the respective separate units in movements angularly disposed with reference to the direction of sliding movement of the valve on the surface.

6. A milking machine pulsator comprising a pulsator block having a ported surface, ay pneumatically operated mechanism including a valve resting and slidable on said surface, said mechanism being freely movable away from said surface. and including a pair of pneumatic cylinders and a pair of pistons one for each cylinder, one of said pairs comprising one integral unit and the other pair comprising separate units supported by said integral unit, the valve being an integral part of the said integral unit and supporting the pneumatically operated mechanism on said, block, and means for positioning the respective separate unitson the block, said posi.- tioning means comprising swivels about which the .separate units are free to turn.

7. A milking machine pulsator comprising a pulsator block having a ported surface, a pneumatically operated mechanism including avalve.

resting and slidable on said surface, said mechanism being freely movable away from said surface and including a pair of pneumatic cylinders and a pair of pistons one for each cylinder, one ofr said pairs comprising one integral unit and the other pair comprising separate units supported by said integral unit, the valve being an integral part of the said integral unit and supporting the pneumatically operated mechanism. on said block, and means for positioning the respective separate units on the block, said positioning means comprising posts mounted on the block at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the cylinder bores, and the said separateunits being slidable on the posts.

8. A pulsator comprising a block having air passageways therein terminating in ports on the outside of the block, a pair of valves separately slidable on the block over the ports and having passageways for interconnecting different ones of the ports, cylinder bores formed in therespective valves, pistons in the respective bores and extending outside of the bores, posts eX- te'nding at right angles to the longitudinal axes o'f the cylinder bores and pivotally mounting said pistons on said block but permitting a free movementv of the pistons and 4with them the cylinders and the valves in a direction towards and from the block at right angles vto the longitudinal axes ofthe cylinder bores whereby the valves are self seating on the' block-,said posts holding the pistons against movement on the block in a direction parallel to the longitudinal vaxes of the cylinder bores. f Y v v f 9'. A milking 'machine pulsator comprising a pulsator block having a ported surface, a pair of parallel posts on Said block, a pneumatic mechanismlbetween .said 'posts having two separate members slidable on said posts and having a reciprocable member-reciprocating between said separate members and together with said vmem--` bers constituting a pair of cylinders and pistons, said pneumatic mechanism being slidable onto and off of said posts, said pneumatic mechanism including a valve resting on said ported surface and reciprocated thereon by said reciprocable member and supporting the pneumatic mechanism.

10.v A milking machine pulsator comprising a pulsator block, a pulsation valve anda timing valve reciprocable thereon, and pneumatic means for operating the valves, said means comprising pneumatic cylinders formed in the respective valves, pistons in said cylinders, and means on the block for holding the pistons against movev ment` directly towards and directly from one another.

1l. A milking machine pulsator having pneumatically operated mechanism comprising a pair of cylinders and a pairof pistons one for each,

cylinder, one of said pairs.. constituting one integral unit and the other pair comprising'sep'arate units, swivel means positioning the separate units and permitting their relative turning about spaced parallel axes to bring them into alignment with one another, said integral unit lbeing reciprocable with respect to the separate units, and said reciprocating unit being provided with a valve surface and valve ports.

12. A milking machine pulsator valve comprising a valve member having a smooth sliding bottom surface, ports formed in said valve.mem.' ber, said ports comprising grooves in said surface, said valve member having two cylinder boresv opening on opposite sides thereof and in alignment with one another and with their longitudinal axes parallel to said bottom surface, and a Wall constituting a part of the valve member and separating the bores.

13. A milking machine pulsator comprising a pulsator block, a pulsation valve and a timing valve both reciprocable on the block, four separate parallel bores in said block, a closure for the outer end of each bore, the block having ports thereon controlled by the pulsation valve and passageways from the ports communicating with the respective bores and the block also having ports thereon controlled by the timing valve and also passageways from the last'mentioned ports communicating with the respective bores, and pneumatic means controlled by movement of air through said passageways and ports and valves for operating said valves, said pneumatic means including cylinder elements and cooperating piston elements above the block.

14. A milking machine pulsator comprising a pulsator block, a pulsation valve and a timing valve both reciprocable on the block, fours'eparate parallel bores in said block, a closure for the outer end of each bore, the blockhaving ports thereon controlled by the pulsation valve andv passageways from the ports communicating with the respective bores, the block also having ports thereon controlled by the timing valve and also passageways from the last mentioned ports' communicating with the respective bores, and pneumatic means controlled by movement of air through said passageways and ports and valvesy for operating said valves, said block having an open bottom cavity in the lower surface thereof,

said valves and constituting a port leading thereto, and means for extending vacuum connections to said cavity.

SAM P. WALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Vaughan et al Feb. 18, 1868 Number Number Number 

